Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

Tracy Franken- Dog Trainer, Vet Tech, Dog Lover, 🐾
  • 4.9 (74)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

Do you wish you could enjoy life with your dog again? Are you struggling with a reactive, fearful, anxious, or misunderstood dog? Do walks, visitors, or everyday situations leave you feeling stressed, frustrated, or embarrassed? I'm Tracy Franken, a retired vet tech turned dog trainer. I discovered the secret to a life of ease with my dogs; Through trust-based training, and a deeper understanding of dog behaviour, I'll help you build confidence, strengthen your relationship, and create a dog you can trust in the real world. Because lasting change starts with understanding the dog you love.

  1. 1d ago

    223 | What Does It Mean To Ask Your Dog?

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever noticed how often we tell our dogs what to do? Sit. Stay. Come. Leave it. Wait. Move. Off. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What does it actually mean to ask my dog? And why does that matter? In this episode, we're exploring one of the biggest shifts that happens when we move beyond obedience and start focusing on relationship-based leadership. Because communication isn't just about telling our dogs what to do. It's about creating opportunities for connection, participation, and trust. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why most of us were taught to tell rather than ask 🐾 The difference between directing and inviting 🐾 How the "Be With" teaches dogs to choose connection 🐾 Why participation is different than compliance 🐾 What happens when dogs have room to think and choose 🐾 How asking strengthens trust and confidence We'll also explore: leadership communication trust relevance partnership choice and why one of the most powerful things we can do for our dogs is create opportunities for them to participate instead of simply comply. Because asking isn't about giving up leadership. It's about becoming someone your dog wants to join. And every time your dog says "yes" to that invitation, the relationship grows a little stronger. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox RESOURCES 🐾 Join the Fearless Framework: ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ 🐾 Take the Quiz! ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ 🐾 Read the blog! ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠ Connect with ME! Contact → ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠ Podcast → ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠ Connect → ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠ Resources → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠ 👣 NEXT STEPS 🐾 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience. Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics. 👉 ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework. 👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter ⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠

  2. 6d ago

    222 | Training Harder Isn't Working... Here's Why

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever felt like you're doing all the right things... but somehow things still aren't getting better? Do you find yourself constantly searching for the next training tip, tool, strategy, or solution? Have you ever wondered if trying harder might actually be making things more difficult? In this episode, we're talking about something many dog owners experience but rarely recognize: The pressure that comes from constantly trying to fix everything. Because when our dogs struggle, our natural response is often to do more. More training. More management. More research. More effort. But what if the answer isn't always more? What if the answer is understanding? We'll talk about: 🐾 Why trying harder is our natural human response 🐾 How pressure can unintentionally affect our dogs 🐾 The connection between uncertainty and control 🐾 Why every interaction doesn't need to become a training session 🐾 What Levi taught me about removing pressure 🐾 How curiosity creates opportunities for growth and why sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when we stop asking: "What else do I need to do?" and start asking: "What am I not understanding yet?" Because dog ownership isn't supposed to feel like a never-ending problem to solve. It's supposed to be a relationship to experience. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox RESOURCES 🐾 Join the Fearless Framework: ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ 🐾 Take the Quiz! ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ 🐾 Read the blog! ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠ Connect with ME! Contact → ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠ Podcast → ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠ Connect → ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠ Resources → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠ 👣 NEXT STEPS 🐾 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience. Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics. 👉 ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework. 👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter ⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠

  3. Jul 13

    221 | Why Obedience Isn't Building The Relationship You Want

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever looked at your dog and thought: "They know all of this... so why does it still feel like we're disconnected?" Does your dog listen perfectly in some situations but completely forget you exist when life gets interesting? Have you ever wondered why obedience doesn't always create the relationship you're hoping for? In this episode, we're exploring one of the biggest misconceptions in the dog world: The idea that obedience and connection are the same thing. Because while obedience is a skill, leadership is a relationship. And those two things aren't always built the same way. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why obedience and connection are not the same thing 🐾 The difference between compliance and relationship 🐾 Why some dogs obey everyone 🐾 What obedience can teach us—and what it can't 🐾 Why leadership isn't about control 🐾 How trust and relevance influence your dog's choices We'll also explore: trust leadership relevance communication partnership connection and why a dog can know every cue in the world and still struggle to look to you when life gets hard. Because obedience may teach a behaviour. But relationship is what makes your dog want to stay connected when it matters most. And that is where true leadership begins. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox RESOURCES 🐾 Join the Online Program Fearless Framework! ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ 🐾 Take the quiz! ⁠⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ 🐾 Read the blog! ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH ME! Contact → ⁠⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠⁠ Connect → ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠⁠ Resources → ⁠⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Merch → ⁠⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠⁠ 🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience. Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics. 👉 ⁠⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework. 👉 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter ⁠⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠⁠

  4. Jul 9

    220 | Why Did I Get This Dog? The Thought Nobody Wants to Admit

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever looked at your dog and thought: "Why did I get this dog?" Have you ever felt guilty for even having that thought? Do you sometimes wonder if you're the problem... if you're failing... or if you've simply taken on more than you can handle? In this episode, we're talking about one of the most common thoughts struggling dog owners have—and one of the least talked about. Because when you're living with a fearful dog, a reactive dog, or a dog that constantly keeps you on edge, it's easy to start questioning everything. Your decisions. Your abilities. Your relationship. And even yourself. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why so many dog owners secretly regret their decision at some point 🐾 The emotional weight of constantly managing your dog's behaviour 🐾 Hypervigilance and the feeling that one mistake could ruin everything 🐾 Why overwhelm is not the same thing as failure 🐾 The difference between being stuck and being hopeless 🐾 How to find your way back to the good moments We'll also explore: trust leadership partnership anxiety hypervigilance resilience and why the thought: "Why did I get this dog?" is often hiding a much deeper question underneath: "I don't know if I can carry all of this anymore." Because the reality is, most people don't keep going because everything is terrible. They keep going because there is still so much good. The quiet moments. The funny moments. The moments where it's just you and your dog and everything else fades away. And sometimes, that's enough to remind us why we started. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox RESOURCES 🐾 Join the Online Program Fearless Framework!⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ 🐾 Take the quiz!⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ 🐾 Read the blog!⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠ CONNECT WITH ME! Contact → ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠ Podcast → ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠ Connect → ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠ Resources → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch → ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠ 🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience. Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics. 👉 ⁠https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework. 👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠

  5. Jul 6

    219 | The Pack of Two: The Relationship Your Dog Actually Wants

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever worried that your dog doesn't have enough dog friends? Do you feel guilty when your dog isn't interested in greeting every person or playing with every dog they meet? Have you ever wondered if we've misunderstood what socialization is really supposed to accomplish? In this episode, we're exploring a simple but powerful idea: The Pack of Two. Because humans and dogs experience relationships very differently. As humans, we spend a lot of time thinking about belonging, fitting in, and being accepted by the larger group. Dogs? Not so much. While dogs absolutely need social connection, many dogs are far more concerned with the quality of their relationships than the quantity of them. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why humans and dogs experience social relationships differently 🐾 The surprising reason your dog doesn't care what everyone thinks 🐾 Why socialization isn't the same as social interaction 🐾 The myth that every dog should love everybody 🐾 How trust and partnership help dogs navigate the world 🐾 Why some dogs need deeper relationships, not more relationships We'll also explore: trust leadership connection socialization partnership and why the strongest relationship in your dog's life might be the one they're building with you. Because the goal has never been to create a dog who wants to be friends with everyone. The goal is to create a dog who can move through the world with confidence. And for many dogs, that confidence starts with a strong pack of two. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox Resources Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers 🐾 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz! 🐾 ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog 🐾 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠⁠ Connect with Me! Contact -> ⁠⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠⁠ Podcast -> ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠⁠ Connect -> ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠⁠ Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠⁠ 🐾 Next Steps 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group ⁠⁠Living Beyond Obedience⁠⁠ Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics 👉 ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework 👉 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter. ⁠⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠⁠

  6. Jul 2

    218 | My Dog Knows Better Than This: The Dog Training Trap Nobody Talks About

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Have you ever found yourself saying: "But my dog knows this." Do you feel frustrated when your dog suddenly struggles with something they've done successfully dozens of times before? Have you ever wondered if your dog is really choosing not to listen... or if something else might be going on? In this episode, we're exploring one of the most common phrases in dog training: "My dog should know better." But what if that's the wrong question? Because knowing something and being able to do it are not always the same thing. Just because your dog has learned a skill doesn't mean they'll always be able to access it when they're stressed, excited, overwhelmed, uncertain, or distracted. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why knowing and doing are two very different things 🐾 How stress, pressure, and emotions impact performance 🐾 Why dogs don't simply "forget" their training 🐾 What I observed with Gunther at the WCERA Games 🐾 Why mistakes and setbacks are valuable information 🐾 How curiosity creates better solutions than judgment We'll also explore: trust understanding awareness emotional capacity problem-solving and why asking "What changed?" is often more helpful than saying "My dog should know better." Because the moment we assume our dogs are being stubborn, difficult, or choosing to ignore us, we stop being curious. And curiosity is often where understanding begins. The goal isn't to prove your dog knows better. The goal is to understand why they couldn't access what they knew in that moment. And that's often where real progress starts. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox Resources Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers 🐾 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz! 🐾 ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog 🐾 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠⁠ Connect with Me! Contact -> ⁠⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠⁠ Podcast -> ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠⁠ Connect -> ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠⁠ Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠⁠ 🐾 Next Steps 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group ⁠⁠Living Beyond Obedience⁠⁠ Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics 👉 ⁠⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework 👉 ⁠⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter. ⁠⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠⁠

  7. Jun 29

    217 | The Real Reason Your Dog Only Listens When You Have Treats

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Does your dog seem to listen perfectly when you have treats... but completely forget everything the moment the food disappears? Have you ever wondered if your dog is only listening because of the treats? Have you been told that using food creates bribery, dependence, or a dog that won't work without rewards? In this episode, we're tackling one of the biggest debates in the dog training world: Food. But what if food isn't actually the problem? What if the real issue has nothing to do with treats at all? We'll explore why dogs make the choices they do, what food is really doing in the learning process, and why so many people end up focusing on the wrong thing. Because this conversation isn't really about food. It's about relationship. It's about relevance. And it's about understanding why your dog chooses to stay connected to you in the first place. We'll talk about: 🐾 Why food gets blamed for things it didn't create 🐾 The difference between bribery and communication 🐾 Why dogs are always making choices 🐾 The trap of trying to out-squirrel the squirrel 🐾 What food is actually doing during training 🐾 Why relevance matters more than rewards We'll also explore: trust connection fulfillment influence leadership and why the strongest relationships aren't built on transactions. Because one day the treats won't be there. And when that happens, the relationship is what remains. Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox Resources Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers 🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz! 🐾 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog 🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠ Connect with Me! Contact -> ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠ Podcast -> ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠ Connect -> ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠ Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠ 🐾 Next Steps 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group ⁠Living Beyond Obedience⁠ Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics 👉 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework 👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter. ⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠

  8. Jun 25

    216 | Am I Helping My Dog... or Making Things Worse?

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Have you ever wondered if you're helping your dog too much? Do you struggle to know when your dog needs support... and when they simply need space to figure things out? Have you ever worried that stepping in too quickly might actually be getting in the way of your dog's confidence? In this episode, we're tackling one of the most important questions dog lovers face: How do I know when to step in and when to step back? Inspired by a question I received after sharing my experience with Gunther at a recent WCERA event, we're diving into the delicate balance between supporting our dogs and allowing them the opportunity to learn, process, and grow. Because confidence isn't built when we solve every problem for our dogs. It's built when they discover what they're capable of—with us there to support them when needed. We'll talk about: 🐾 The difference between processing and overwhelm 🐾 Why struggling isn't always a bad thing 🐾 How to recognize when your dog is still thinking versus when they're shutting down 🐾 The signs that tell me it's time to step back 🐾 The signs that tell me it's time to step in 🐾 Why confidence grows through supported challenges We'll also explore: trust partnership leadership problem-solving resilience and why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply believe our dogs are capable. Because true partnership isn't about doing everything for your dog. Sometimes partnership means: "I've got you." And sometimes partnership means: "I believe you've got this." Hope you enjoy this one! Tracy xoxox Resources Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers 🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz! 🐾 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog 🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠ Connect with Me! Contact -> ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠ Podcast -> ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠ Connect -> ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠ Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠ 🐾 Next Steps 👣 Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics 👉 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠ Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework 👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠ Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter. ⁠www.shawntrotter.com

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4.9
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About

Do you wish you could enjoy life with your dog again? Are you struggling with a reactive, fearful, anxious, or misunderstood dog? Do walks, visitors, or everyday situations leave you feeling stressed, frustrated, or embarrassed? I'm Tracy Franken, a retired vet tech turned dog trainer. I discovered the secret to a life of ease with my dogs; Through trust-based training, and a deeper understanding of dog behaviour, I'll help you build confidence, strengthen your relationship, and create a dog you can trust in the real world. Because lasting change starts with understanding the dog you love.

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